Cardiology Conference-CVC 2026

Echocardiography is a fundamental diagnostic modality that uses ultrasound waves to generate images of the heart in real-time. It is capable of thoroughly assessing cardiac structure, function and hemodynamic information that is critical for diagnosis, treatment strategies and followup.

Echocardiography can be performed in several ways:

Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE): Non-invasive and often the initial echocardiography for assessment of heart chambers, valves, and ventricular function.

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): Higher quality echocardiography achieved through a probe inserted in the esophagus to provide interrogation of valve pathology, a specific atrial appendage, or intra-cardiac thrombus.

Stress Echocardiography: Evaluation of heart function during physical or pharmacologic stress to assess for ischemia or exercise tolerance.

Doppler Echocardiography: Measures blood flow velocity and direction, allowing for assessment of valvular function and estimation of intracardiac pressures.

Echocardiography can be used to help diagnose valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, heart failure, congenital heart disease, pericardial disease and intracardiac masses or thrombi. It is also immensely useful in many interventional procedures including TAVR, mitral repair, and appendage closure; even in providing echocardiographic guidance during resuscitation.

Echocardiography has the advantage of being non-invasive, affords real-time imaging, lacks the use of ionizing radiation, and can simultaneously provide functional and anatomical information. Echocardiography can be readily available and is a useful tool in diagnosing diseases, stratifying risk in patient populations, and aiding in clinical decision making.